Video

Video

Today, we invite readers to enjoy the premiere of FIREside Chats, a series of feature interviews with FIRE staff. In these interviews, FIRE staff members will discuss their interest in free speech, involvement with FIRE, and favorite free speech moment.

For the first time since FIRE began issuing our annual report on campus speech codes eight years ago, the percentage of institutions maintaining speech codes that clearly and substantially restrict freedom of speech has fallen below 50 percent.

In an effort to address sexual assault on college campuses, New York became the second state to pass an affirmative consent—or “yes means yes”—law this summer, putting college students at risk of punishment if they cannot demonstrate that they received “clear permission” to engage in “sexual activity.” But how many students know about the new law they’re required to follow? What kinds of actions constitute sexual activity? And how exactly can they demonstrate or get consent?

Radley Balko, the award-winning reporter and author of Washington Post’s opinion blog The Watch, shares his thoughts on the biggest threats to free speech in America today, specifically increased public demand for protection from offensive speech and government crackdowns on extremism.